The End of an Era: Portrait studios Close in Sears, Wal-Marts.

The grand American tradition of posing for family photos at department stores is coming to close, a victim of digital technology.

CPI Corp, the portrait provider behind studios in Sears and some Wal-Mart stores has closed, according to a statement on its website that said all its U.S. locations have shut down “after many years of providing family portrait photography.â€

The company, based in St. Louis, has provided photography services for over 60 years in more than 3,000 locations, mostly Wal-Mart and Sears stores.

CPI suffered the same fate as Eastman Kodak, a victim of the popularity and affordability of digital cameras and Smartphones. CPI was unable to pay back creditors and was warning about a possible liquidation. Even after bringing in a new chief executive last year, sales slumped and the company reported $20.2 million in net loss.

Sears said it was notified of the CPI closing on Thursday and was “working with CPI to ensure that it fulfills its outstanding orders.â€ Wal-mart, who saw less than 20% of their stores affected by CPI’s closure, also made contingency plans for customers who had had pending orders.

“There’s almost no word to describe this. It’s devastating,â€ said Jennifer McDowell, a three-year CPI employee. “There’s a chance (CPI) was not going to make good on their promises to customers, and if they don’t, they make us look like liars,â€ she added. “Leaving the clients in the lurch is not right. … We’re trying to do our best to take care of our customers even now. That’s where our loyalty lies.”